Interoperability testing tools for metrology equipment successfully demonstrated.

Shortening time to market is a strategic imperative for U.S. manufacturers in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. Achieving a seamless flow of data from computer aided design part models to equipment on the factory floor is a key requirement to shorten product cycles. In the area of metrology equipment, one of the key interfaces that NIST has identified the interface between the metrology hardware, the coordinate measuring machine, for example, and the control system for that hardware. NIST is working with the Metrology Automation Association to develop a standard for this interface, which is called the Common Machine Interface (CMI).

Industry is setting the specifications and NIST is providing testing tools. In July, NIST researchers teamed with one of the leading manufacturers of metrology equipment, to demonstrate the CMI test suite. Demonstrated were the NIST-developed common sender and receiver utilities, a common test artifact, and an implementation of CMI on a coordinate measurement machine. The demonstration of the test suite included the transmission of a CMI compliant test file from the NIST lab to the manufacturers' facility in the U.K., execution of the file on the coordinate measuring machine to inspect features on the test part, monitoring and collection of status information, and review of test log files with preliminary analysis tools.

CONTACT: Al Wavering, [phone]; [e-mail].